SEARHC training program on hold until Oct.

SEARHC is also suspending its training program for community health aides for the rest of the fiscal year.

Community Health Aides provide first response in villages and smaller communities, often acting as medics by stabilizing patients before they’re transported to larger facilities.

In a statement issued Tuesday, SEARHC chief executive Charles Clement tried to dispel rumors that the program is going away entirely. He said community health aides who serve villages will continue to be part of SEARHC’s work.

Clement said the staff who teach the training program are also health care providers themselves, and that most will continue to have work at SEARHC.

“They’re teachers that are mid-level practicioners. Most of those providers will be seeing patients,” Clement said. “They’ll transition from being teachers to being providers again.”

SEARHC spokesman Michael Jenkins says about 4 people work in the community health aide training program. The program’s suspension is effective immediately and lasts until Oct. 1, when SEARHC begins a new fiscal year.